But should we stay hopeful? Despite the growing risk to millions of people, scientists are finding new ways to protect coastal populations from flooding.
Rising sea level to drown 136 cities
Flood warning: Satellite observations show that the world's ice sheets are melting faster than expected in response to increasing global temperatures, threatening the future of some of the world's largest cities. Glossary
Nasa - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme.
Surge Barriers - Floodgates designed to protect coastal areas from flooding caused by storm surges and high tides.